At one time, mattresses were rated as "easy firm", "medium firm" and "extra firm". The padding on the inside was generally the same, but the difference was in the number of coils. The more coils it had, the more support it gave, and the longer it lasted. That is why so many people looked for the "extra firm" model.

The problem was, many could not sleep on these "rock hard" beds and proceeded to buy foam pads to place on top so their backs and sides would not hurt and keep them awake at night.

Mattress manufacturers observed this trend and began placing these pads "inside" the mattress, with the spring system sandwiched in between. It was then that the "comfortable" mattress was born. Not only would you get support from the mattress, but now it would also give a "comfort" level to help people sleep even better. In fact, many of today's mattresses have up to thirteen different layers of padding stacked on top of the springs! Some folks like firm, some like soft, and some like in between (like the Three Bears or the Princess and the Pea stories). We would like to point out that it is possible to get a good mattress in any of three comfort levels. As long as the mattress is "extra firm" on the inside, you WILL get the support that is necessary for proper posture when you sleep. The only question left is which is better for me, firm or soft? (See "What type of mattress is best for me?").

Boxsprings

Most box springs are not really box "springs" anymore. They are merely platforms that build up the height of the mattress and provide a steady base to help reduce the side-to-side motion (from your partner) that keeps so many people awake at night.

There are three types commonly referred to as "box springs":

1. A foundation consists of a wooden platform (think of a pallet), covered with fabric. It looks like a standard box spring on the outside, but lacks the shock-absorbing characteristic that extends the life of the mattress. Because this box spring is all wood, it tends to squeak over time. It is also the least expensive of the four types.

2. A semi-flex box spring consists of a wooden base (2 ply) with a rigid steel upper structure. This model is stronger than a foundation and does not possess the tendency to squeak.

3. A coil box spring is the traditional "box spring" containing a 2-ply wood base with actual coils fastened to the wood cross-beams on the bottom, all held together by a steel grid on top to stabilize the coils.

a. This old technology transfers motion easily across the mattress and aggravates the side-to-side motion disturbance. In other words, when your partner changes positions at night (commonly 25-70 times) the motion across the bed disturbs the sleep of the other, and vice-versa.

b. Edge support is also affected. A coil box spring creates a soft edge, which, if you are used to sleeping on the edge, can make you feel like you are falling off the bed. If you have a soft edge, you tend to stay away from the edge, in essence reducing the usable sleep surface.

Mattresses

There is a plethora of designs of mattress coil springs. Each spouts their individual strengths and sleep health benefits. Actually, one company - Leggett and Platt, makes approximately 76% of all mattress coil springs. L&P builds an "exclusive design" for several manufacturers, including the Serta, Sealy and Spring Air brands. Each has their own distinct advantages but by and large have the same result; good support for your back.

The padding in the mattress refers to the types and number of pads placed on top of the spring system. These pads are what give a mattress it's "feel". Most quality models offer a range of softness to choose from. The combination of padding, or "comfort recipe", refers to the padding type (firm or soft) along with the number of pads. For example, if there are five soft pads on top of the spring system, the bed will "feel" soft. If all five are firm, the bed will "feel" firm or hard. If the bed has three firm pads and two soft pads, it will "feel" in between soft and firm. Most customers say they want a firm bed for support. The great news is that today's mattresses can give you the best of both worlds; comfort and support! They are Firm on the inside for support, and some degree of "soft" on the top for comfort.